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Tachi (long sword) Dance
Tachi (long sword) Dance
Prefecturally Designated Intangible Folk Cultural Property (designated 1960)
Ayaura district, Ushimado
The ‘Tachi Dance’ is a traditional religious performing art of Ayaura district in Ushimado and is performed on the 4th Sunday in October each year, the same day as the Ushimado Autumn Festival. The dance is performed at Goryō shrine by a total of five members: an ōdaiko (lit. large drum) player and four dancers, two who play male roles, and two who play female. The ōdaiko player sits on the floor and plays a kanko (small drum), while the male characters, wielding swords, and the female characters, who carry naginata (halberds), dance to the rhythm of the drum and other hayashi (traditional musical accompaniment). The performance is preceded by a traditional Japanese instrumental performance, called a narashi.
